Grants

The Abell Foundation awards grants to nonprofit community partners working to improve the quality of life in Baltimore. We provide seed funding for innovative pilots, support for ongoing community programs and services, and funding for capital projects. In addition to providing grant funding, the Foundation supports our nonprofit partners through connection to our local and national networks, as well as our team’s deep experience in and knowledge of Baltimore as it relates to our program areas.

Learn More About Our Process

Eligibility and Review Criteria

For all nonprofit organizations seeking grant funding, regardless of the request amount. 

Small Grants Process

For grant requests of $10,000 or less.

Reviewed on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to apply.

Regular Grants Process

For grant requests greater than $10,000.

Reviewed at one of the Foundation’s five annual Board meetings.

Submit an Application

Considering Applying?

First-time applicants with grant requests greater than $10,000 should submit a short letter of inquiry prior to submitting a regular grant application. For guidance on what to include in your LOI, please reference our frequently asked questions.

Submit an LOI

Ready to Apply for a Small Grant?

For first-time or returning applicants with grant requests of $10,000 or less. We accept and review small grant applications on a rolling basis. There is no deadline to apply for a small grant.

Start a Small Grant Application

Ready to Apply for a Regular Grant?

For returning applicants and those who have a verified fit with the Foundation’s priorities for requests greater than $10,000. Regular grant applications are reviewed at one of five Board meetings each year.

Start a Regular Grant Application

Returning to a Saved Application or Submitting a Report?

Log into the grant portal below to return to a saved application or submit a report for a previously awarded grant. Report forms can be found under the “Requirements” tab.

Return to Your Application or Submit a Report

See Our Past Grants

Helping Up Mission, Inc.

$200,000 / 2021 / Criminal Justice and Addiction

Abell funding will support the Helping Up Mission (HUM) in its development of a Women’s and Children’s Center at 1216 E. Baltimore Street in Baltimore City. The Women’s Center will provide a gender-informed, residential, faith-based, 12-step substance abuse recovery program set within the context of a therapeutic supportive community. Clients will be provided with clinical professional mental health care and substance abuse counseling, professional pastoral care, and a large array of physical, psychological, social, emotional, and practical supportive services so that they can focus on their recovery and achieve lasting success.

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Fund for Educational Excellence

$40,000 / 2021 / Education

The Fund for Educational Excellence is a Baltimore-based non-profit organization that supports public education through its fundraising and collaboration with Baltimore City Public Schools, convening of education stakeholders, and serving as a fiscal sponsor to non-profit organizations. The Fund acts as an independent ambassador, drawing upon its understanding of education needs in Baltimore City, as well as strong relationships with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, to ensure the best possible education for our city’s public school students. The organization provides stewardship for over $20 million in private philanthropic support for programming targeted towards Baltimore City students.

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Food & Water Watch

$40,000 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

This grant supports Food & Water Watch’s efforts to ensure that Baltimore City’s Water Accountability and Equity Act  is implemented according to the law, and that eligible Baltimore City residents enroll in the “Water for All” program.  Under the law, water bills will be capped at 1%-3% of income for those living at 50-200% of the Federal Poverty Limit, including tenants.  To incentivize on-time payments and retention in the program, the equivalent amount of each on-time water bill payment is deducted from enrolled residents’ arrears.  In addition, the act calls for the creation of the “Office of Water Customers Advocacy and Appeals” within the Department of Public Works (DPW) to provide all residents with a fair and neutral process of resolving water bill issues, which the OIG’s recent report shows are prevalent.

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Episcopal Housing Corporation

$65,000 / 2021 / Health and Human Services

This grant will support Episcopal Housing Corporation’s renovation of 17 W. Mulberry Court into nine Permanent Supportive Housing units. Permanent Supportive Housing is an evidence-based intervention to end chronic homelessness, which has also been shown to decrease health care spending. Once the development is complete, tenants will be referred from the Baltimore City’s Coordinated Access List, and Health Care for the Homeless will provide social services to those tenants.

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Environment America Research & Policy Center

$26,000 / 2021 / Environment

Maryland needs to quickly ramp up its solar siting and production to meet statewide goals. As suggested in the Abell Report “Getting Solar Siting Right in Maryland,” rooftops and parking lots of big box stores are ideal for solar energy installations as they build on already-developed infrastructure and do not disturb undeveloped, productive agricultural or forested land. Grant funds will enable Environment America to conduct research on the viability of rooftop solar on big-box retail stores in Maryland and other states and launch an advocacy campaign to encourage corporate investment in solar installations in Baltimore and Maryland.

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Header photo courtesy of Thread.